By jmaloni, originally published in Niagara Frontier Publications on 3/27/15.

Funding awards announced by Buffalo and Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee

The Buffalo and Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee announced funding awards totaling more than $2.2 million to 12 projects for the latest round of funding. The awards approved at the meeting March 24 include (project award listing and sponsor):

The Standing Committee is composed of one representative from Erie County, the City of Buffalo, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy and the New York Power Authority. All project applications for consideration were submitted by the Jan. 26 deadline and reviewed by the Buffalo and Erie County Standing Committee Feb. 24.

Additionally, the committee unanimously approved Alan J. Bozer as the new Buffalo and Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee chairman. Bozer is the committee’s Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy representative. He is a partner with the law firm of Phillips Lytle.

The Buffalo and Erie County Standing Committee receives Power Authority funds as part of a settlement agreement related to the 50-year license received by NYPA for the Niagara Hydroelectric Power Plant in 2007. The committee receives $2 million a year during the license term.

NYPA is the nation’s largest state public power organization, through the operation of its 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned, in large part, through sales of electricity. More than 70 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower.